The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has given its online Street Directories database a major overhaul.
In the new version of Street Directories, keywords which match the search criteria are highlighted on the scanned directory pages, so relevant information is immediately visible. A roll-over zoom function also greatly enhances viewing of the digitised directories on screen.
The Street Directories database, which was originally launched in 2009, holds 29 publications covering the years 1819–1900 and makes a great starting point for many areas of research. The number of individuals named in the 20,000 pages makes it a valuable resource for family historians, while those investigating local, social or economic history can research the growth and decline of towns and villages, explore the social fabric of localities and trace the development of commerce and industry.
Free to access, the revised database can be searched here.